Lacing-hook



N. J. BECKNER.

LACING HOOK.

APPucAlon man Avn. zu, |920.

1 ,359,0 1 8. Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

UNITED 'STATES NOAH J'. BECKNER, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

LACING-HOOK.

Specication ci Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Application filed April 28, 1920. Serial No. 377,374.

l otally connected to the post or standard of the hook so that it may beopened or closed.

The general objection to lacing hooks as ordinarily constructed and ascommonly found on shoes is that the edge of the relatively wide hill ofthe hook tends to fray garments coming in contact therewith.

The general object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a lacinghook so formed that the head or bill of the hook will normally lie withthe head disposed with its edge adjacent to the shoe and, therefore,preventing any fraying of the garment.

And a further object is to provide a con struction of this character inwhich this head is normally shifted to a relatively open position spacedfrom the face of the shoe to admit the lace, the lace acting by itstension to draw the free edge of the head of the hook downward againstthe shoe.

A further object is to provide a construction of this character in whichthe head is yieldingly urged away vfrom the shoe by means of a springcontained within the head and is drawn toward the shoe by means of thetension on the lace itself.

A further object is to provide a construction of this character in whichthe head of the hook is longitudinally and transversely concavo-conveXso yas to present a rounded surface which will not act toV fray thegarments'. and which also acts as a complete protection against garmentsbeing frayed by the p'ost or standard upon which the gan ment ismounted.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description;

y invention is illustrated in the accom- Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a shoe having lacing hooks. thereon constructed in accordance with'my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of my lacing` hooksclosed;

Fig. 3 is a like view to Fig. 2, but showing the lacing hook open;

Fig. l1 is a section on the line 1mi of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an under Side plan view of the lacing hook and its base.

Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that my improved hookcomprises a base which is adapted to bc riveted or otherwise attached tothe shoe or other garment A by means of the rivet u.. This hase plate1l) at one cud is reduced in diameter and provided with upwardly andforwardly extending Shanks constituting ears 11 spaced from each otherpreferably throughout their entire extent, though not necessarily so.These ears are extended upward and forward so that the forward edge ofthe ears is inwardly curved, as at 12. and the ears adjacent their upperends are provided with transverse. alining pertorations 13.

The head df the hook is formed of an outer or upper shell 14 of thinsheet metal. preferably enameled. this shell being longitudinailyconcave-convex. with the convex side upward, and transverselyconcave-convex, as illustrated most clearly in Figs. 52 and 4. The headis completed by a metallic plate 15 which is approximately oval iu form.as is the shell 14 or cap, and which is formed with ears, the blankbeing formed with the outwardly and rearwardly projecting portions 16constituting ears, these ears being folded over tiat upon the upper faceof the plate 15, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 4. and then beingupwardly extended. as at 17, on each side of the standards 11. A pivotpin. rivet. bolt or equivalent element 18 is disposed through these ears17 and through the openings 13 in the posts 11. Thus the plate 15 ispivoted upon the posts for limited oscillation. The middle or the rearportion of the plate 15 is curved downward and forward. as at 19. andthis portion extends across the front of thepost. Preferably, the plate15 extends rearward on each side of the posts 11, as at 20. The cap orshell 14 has its edge inwardly bent into engagement with the plate 15and is crimped around said plate and soldered or otherwise attachedthereto. Thus, this head formed by the cap or shell M and the plate 15is hollow and the posts 11 extend up into the rear portion of thishollow head. Disposed between these posts 11 and suitably hcld thereinis the rear end of a spring 21, which spring is upwardly bowed andengages at its forward end with the forward end portion of the shell orcap 111. This spring tends to raise the 'free end of the head formed bythe shell 14 and the plate 15 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

lf now the lace B be passed around the portion or tongue 19 and drawntaut, the tension of the lace will so draw upon the tongue 19 as to pullthe free end of the head downward to the position shown in Fig. 2 intovery close relation to the leather of the shoe or of the surface of thcgarment. lmmediately upon a relaxation of this tension, however, thespring 21 will act to raise the free end of the head and depress therear end thereoil to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus permitting thefree removal of the lace. It will thus be seen that the hook opens andcloses automatically as the lare is inserted or removed from the hook.

It will be noted that with this construction the plate 15 which supportsthe shell 1l is transversely braced by the Jortions 16 which are bentover upon the iace of the plate 15 so that this plate is strengthenedthereby at the point where the pivot is formed. It will further be seenthat it is relatively easy to attach plate 15 to the posts 11, thenplace the spring in position, and then place the cap 14 over the plate15 and engafre it therewith along its edges. lt will furt 1er be notedthat a relatively strong bearing is secured for the pivot pin 18 becauseoi the four thicknesses oi' metal through which the pin passes, It is,oit course, obvious that the posts or standards 11 might be integral attheir lower portions and a hole be bored for the shank of spring 21.

While this lacing hook is designed particularly for use on boots andshoes, yet it is obvious that it might be used in any situation wheresuch a lacing hook is desirable. It might be used for gaiters or otherarticles of clothing. lt is obvlous that the lace may be readilywithdrawn from engagement with the hook by simply slackening the strainon the lace, and pulling the lace out from beneath the bill or body ofthe hook. Inasmuch as the tongue 19 1s transversely curved, the lacewill not come in contact with a relatively thin and relativelysharpedged tongue and, therefore, will not be frayed. Further, as thehead of the hook formed by the shell 14 and the part 15 entirelyconceals the shank formed by the standards 11, a more attractivecharacter will be given to the hook than otherwise would be the case.

I claim 1. A lacing hook of the character described comprising a base,a-- supporting shank extending upward therefim, a head forming the billof the hook and pivoted to the shank, the head being formed with ahook-shaped tongue extending downward and forward beneath the pivotalaxis of the head and with which the lace is adapted to engage to turnthe head to a closed position, and a spring engaged at one end with theshank and extending into and housed by the head and acting to urge thefree edge of the head upward.

2. A. lacing hook of the character described comprising a base, a shankextending upward therefrom, a head forming the bill of the hook, saidhead being transversely and longitudinally concave convex and beinghollow and having its convex side facing the base, said head beingpivotcd intermediate its ends to the shank and being formed with ahook-shaped tongue extendn ing downward and forward beneath thel pivotalaxis of the head and with which the lace is adapted to engage to turnthe head to a closed position, and a spring attached to the shank andextending into the hollow head and urfring the free end of the hollowhead away tiom the base.

3. A lacing hook of the character described comprising a base havingupstanding shanks at one end spaced from each other at their upper ends,a hollow head in closing the upper ends of the Shanks, a pivot pinextending through the Shanks, the head having ears disposed on each sideof the shanks and throu `h which the pivot pin passes, the under ace ofthe head adjacent the shank being reversely curved and formed to providea tongue extending rearward toward the shank, then downward and outwardwhereby to be engaged by a lace, and a spring having one' end engagedwith said Shanks and its free end engaged with the free end of the headand said spring being entirely inclosed by said head.

4. A lacing hook of the character described comprising a base havingoutwardly extending Shanks at one end, the Shanks being forwardlycurved, a head comprising a lower plate formed to provide two earsembracing the Shanks and pivoted thereto and between said ears with adownwardly and forwardly extendin hook disposed in front of said Shanksan adapted to be engaged by a lace, a transversely and longitu inallyconcave-convex cap attached at its margins to said plate and extendingover the rear portions of the Shanks, and a spring attached at one endto said Shanks and at its free end engaged with the said cap and actinto urge the head; to an open position.

5, i lacing lgaoolkV of the character described comprising a base havingoutwardly extendingr Shanks at one end, the Shanks being forwardlycurved and spaced from each other, anda head comprising anl inner plateformed at its margin and adjaeent its rear end with laterally extendingportions and lateral lugs, the material of said lugs being then extendedinward to the shan s and then outward parallel to the Shanks to lace, aooncavo-convex cap extending over the plate and extending over the rearportions of the Shanks and attached at its margins to the plate, and aspring engaged at one end with said Shanks extending beneath the pivotpin and at its free end engaging with the cap, and urging the free endof the head upward.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my 20 signature.

NOAH J. BECKNER.

